Today's Scripture Readings

Saints, Feasts, and Readings for 7/03/2013

Prayer Before Reading Holy Scripture

O Master Who loves mankind, illuminate our hearts with the pure light of Your divine knowledge and open the eyes of our mind to understand the teachings of Your Gospel. Instill in us also the fear of Your blessed commandments, that we may overcome all carnal desires, entering upon a spiritual life and understanding and acting in all things according to Your holy will. For You are the enlightenment of our souls and bodies, O Christ God, and to You we give glory together with Your eternal Father and Your all-holy, gracious and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.

Epistle Reading: Romans 4:13-25

For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was
not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the
righteousness of faith.

For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void
and the promise made of no effect,

because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law
there is no transgression.

Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace,
so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who
are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is
the father of us all

(as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations")
in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the
dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;

who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became
the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your
descendants be."

And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body,
already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of
Sarah's womb.

He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but
was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,

and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was
also able to perform.

And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness."

Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed
to him,

but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him
who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,

who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised
because of our justification.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 7:21-23

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the
kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

"Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many
wonders in Your name?'

"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart
from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'